Dark Rescue chapter 2

"You were right to put those two together, Cat," said Scurry as he, Lex and Cat watched the viewer. "Roloft will temper the shock that Shoren is sure to face."

"And Shoren's love of learning is sure to spark Roloft as well," said Lex. 

"I hope so," said Cat, "So many of the young ones built their whole futures around fighting the Shadowlords.  When Thordon was healed of its evils, they didn't know what to do.  The ones with families and lands did all right.  But crewmen like Roloft seemed kind of lost with no more adventures to go on."

"Well, he doesn't look lost now," observed Lex, "If that elf is anywhere near as inquisitive as  others I have known, he'll waste no time in getting to know more about that box with the pictures."

"I'd like to get a closer look at that box myself," muttered Scurry.

Cat smiled and said, "Give them the afternoon to get settled and acquainted.  Tonight, I want dinner served on deck so our young friend can meet the whole crew.  You can talk to him about his box then."  She tossed a cloth over the viewer and Scurry's concentration was broken. "There will be plenty of time for discovery later." 

Scurry had gotten much better at catching on than he used to be.  So even though he had only heard the last sentence she had said, he knew he had been dismissed to go on about his duties.  He excused himself and promised to see them at dinner. Then he left the captain's quarters and walked across the deck to the stairs that led down to his cabin. 

Cat and Lex watched him through the door that he had left open.  They knew that his mind was already racing through the layers of information he stored in his own private world of thought. By dinner time, someone would be sent to dig him out from under the mounds of books and tomes on magic and interplanal histories that he was sure to be buried under by then.  

Throby had one table set up for the highest ranking crew members and the other tables placed in rows beyond it.  That way if Cat wished to address the crew, she could do so easily.  Rank among the crew was much as it had been when Cat played the part of a pirate.  There was an inner circle of the most trustworthy and brave crewmen.  Below them was a group who could be trusted to run the whole ship if need be.  Then lowest on the ladder was the common folk of the crew.   What race each fellow was had nothing to do with the rank he earned.  On the healing of Thordon, all folk were equal in Cat's eyes.  There were all sorts of kin and kind aboard and they all knew that honor was the attribute their captain admired most. 

As the crew gathered for dinner that evening, everyone welcomed the sights and smells that filled the deck of Hope's Wind.  Every table was set out with trays of baked yams and roasted varna root.  There were plates heaping with cooked meats and what looked to Shoren like baked ham. 

There were bowls full of fruit slices and baskets of hot breads.  There were heaps of fresh green salads on trays in the center of each table.  All around the deck were casks of the sweet water of Mythrindell. It wasn't that often that Throby got to welcome someone to his world.  He wanted to make a good impression.   

Shoren also wanted to make a good impression.  Roloft had sat with him all afternoon in his cabin and instructed him on the kin and kind he would meet at dinner.  He taught him how to tell a gnome from a halfling and he taught him the proper way to greet each race and what to never say to a troll.  You would have thought dinner was some formal affair by all the effort being put into it.  But as it is with all good things, the effort paid off.   

If Shoren was shocked by any of the folk on the crew, he hid it well.  He handled conversation with the charm his mother would have wished for.  Shoren was introduced to every member of the ship's compliment.  And no matter how unimportant they seemed to be, he treated them with respect and courtesy.  Scurry waited only as long as he had to before he cornered Shoren to talk about all the things he liked to study. 

"It’s funny," said Shoren, "It’s like I can never learn enough.  When I learned how to play Mom's flute, I had to learn how to play all the instruments that we had in the house.  And even when I was learning to walk, I remember thinking how badly I wanted to be able to run and dance.  That's why I saved up and bought my computer.  I can use it any time to read up on any subject."  Shoren suddenly felt as if everyone had stopped and was staring at him.  Cat was the one who saved him. 

She leaned over and confided in him," They are surprised that you say you can read at so young an age.  To be able to read means that you have had time and money to devote to just learning.  To read is a luxury that most kin of Thordon could not afford until they were much older than you."

"You mean they cannot read," said Shoren.  It was the first shock he had shown all evening. 

"Yes," said Lex, "All these men can read.  But some of them did not learn until after they joined the crew.  When you talk of reading as if it means nothing to you, it strikes them odd."

"If I gave the impression that I take reading lightly, I am sorry.  I don't know what I would do if I couldn't read."  He turned to the crew and said, "Where I come from, reading is such a treasure that even youngers are taught.  It is truly rare to find anyone in my land that does not read."   

The crew watched and listened as Shoren explained more about schools and colleges and how some folk do nothing but study all their lives. 

As the evening wore on, Cat stood and said, "Friends, I believe this has been the perfect evening and we should all thank Throby and his crew for one of the finest meals to ever be set on a table."  Everyone slapped their fingertips on the edges of the table and cheered in agreement. "I think we all know how easy it would be to sit here and talk all night.   But this is a ship and it will need to be sailed in the morning.  So I think we should all call it a night."

Now have you ever noticed that you are never tired until someone tells you that you are tired?  Well, that is just what happened at that dinner table.  Everyone started stacking and clearing away the empty trays and plates and by the time the tables had been stowed away, everyone was yawning and rubbing at sleepy eyes.  

Shoren slept as soundly as he ever had.  When the new morning stirred his dreams into waking, he thought for a moment that all that had happened might have been a dream brought on by years of bedtime stories and a fight with his father.  But as his eyes opened, any doubt of the realness of Thordon was whisked away.  He sat up, reached down and got his journal from the floor, fluffed his pillows and leaned back against them. 

JOURNAL ENTRY: Last night was a most interesting and enlightening time.  I had the opportunity to meet and dine with the entire crew of Hope's Wind.  I was most impressed by the variety and wonder of the races I met.  The inner circle of the crew are a delightful bunch.  Cat and Lex are captain and first mate.  But second only to them is a funny little fellow named Scurry.  He is human by race but back home he would probably be called a nerd.  He strikes me as someone who is happiest with his nose in a book or slaving over some invention he's working on. 

After Scurry, comes a barbarian named Dungeon.  Dad had told me a story about the first time he fought for a place on Cat's crew.  And I knew him the moment I first saw him.  The next ranking man is a draekin named Trench.  He serves as lookout and navigation. 

Draekin are half dragons and half man.  His body is like that of a man but he has the head, tail, claws, and wings of an emerald dragon.  Once you get past the idea of a man with wings and a tail, you see that there is great beauty in the beings of this world. 

Tramua was one being I never thought I would meet.  She's a fog giant and easily the tallest creature I expect I will ever see.  At over twenty feet tall, I wondered where on the ship she stayed.  I learned that more often than not, she stayed along-side the ship and rested on deck when she needed to sleep. 

Thul is the next of the crew.  And Thul is proof that all who are part of this crew are equal.   Thul is a hobgoblin by race.  And honestly, hobgoblins are ugly creatures.  But once you have sat and talked with him, you can't see his features for the sweetness of his spirit and the laughter in his heart.  

I had the opportunity to talk with a most delightful gnome named Chafe who is the maintenance and repair expert on board.  And finishing out the group is a fellow named Mutt.  Now when I saw Mutt, he looked almost like he and I could be related.  And I assumed that he was also a halfelf.  But I soon learned that some races of shape shifters look like halfelves when in a relaxed state.  Watching him change from creature to creature was most entertaining.   Among the rest of the crew were men, elves, trolls, and even a lizard man. 

I think the most interesting looking of the crew were the diabolus named Ethos and a shargugh called Green.  Diabolus are creatures that look like a bright purple mix of man and billy goat.  And when I first met Green, he reminded me a little of something that belonged deep in the woods.   Shargughs are short little fellows that dress themselves all in soft leathers and wood colored tunics. 

No doubt, Green got his name from the color of his hair.  The whole of his head is covered in green hair that grows down past his waist and is so thick that it is all but impossible to tell where his hair ended and his beard began.  He is never without a dagger that hangs in a jeweled sheath at his waist and one ring on each hand.  The rings and dagger are magically connected and serve to protect as if the little man was wearing full armor. 

I sit here and think about how I will fill my day.  But then I realize that I never planned for yesterday and it was certainly full.  As sure as I plan out what I will do, something will happen.  

He closed the journal and sat back against his pillows.  He had packed for a cruise and this was sort of a cruise.  He was glad that he had invested in that solar battery charger for all of his computer stuff.  But he didn't feel like doing anything on the computer.  He felt like doing something physical.  His darts, he could practice throwing his darts if he could find something to use as a target.

There was a knock at the door and he called from the bed, "Csreen," which if he had said it right meant `come in' in elven.  The door opened and Roloft walked in with breakfast and set it near Shoren.    

He sat down next to the tray and said, "I'm impressed, your elven is improving.  But you need to tighten up on it just a little.  It should be; csrien.  It’s not a big difference. elves will still know what you mean." 

Shoren made a mental note on the instruction and looked at the tray.  It looked like any breakfast he might have seen on earth.  There were two bowls of a hot cereal and a plate that held cooked meat patties and brownish sweet cheese.  There were also two glasses of what he figured to be juice.  The flavors were different.  But the food was good and filled them both. 

"Shoren," said Roloft as he gulped down the last of his juice, "you never unpacked your other bag yesterday.  What's in it?"

"I don't know, I never looked in it," answered Shoren, "Mom said it was some stuff that she was going to drop off somewhere."

"Do you mind if I look," asked Roloft? 

"Go ahead," answered Shoren as he climbed out of bed and carried the tray to the table and started going through the backpack he had left there.  He wasn't really paying any attention to the bag or the elf until he heard a long low whistle and caught a glimmer of light out the corner of his eye.  He looked up just in time to see Roloft pull the last tip of an ebony handled sword out of the bag. 

"What on earth is that doing in there," he said in little more than a whisper? 

"This isn't from earth," said Roloft, "This is from Thordon."  He looked at the blade and said, "I've seen this before.  It belonged to a bard and fighter named Stephan."  He looked at Shoren, "How did you get it?"

"It belongs to my dad.  He used to tell me stories of how some king gave it to him." Shoren reached for the sword and was surprised to see how natural it felt in his hand.  As he stood there and held the blade, he mumbled, "What else is in there?" 

The two peered into the bag and then back at each other.  First a long bow of exquisite workmanship was pulled out.  Then two quivers of arrows and a finely jeweled dagger rested on the table.  There was the flute that Shoren had learned to play as a child, and a magical lute called the song giver.  A sling and pouch of small steel balls finished out the weaponry.  And the last thing they drew from the bag was a shirt and breeches finely woven out of metal.  Roloft mumbled something about elven mail and Shoren was just about to ask him what elven mail was when a knock at the door startled them both.  

"May I come in," asked Lex?  Shoren was still so shaken that he couldn't manage to say anything.  So he waved the sword and Lex walked in the room.  "I see your folks sent you with gear," said Lex, "That's good. I expected to have to outfit you from what we have on board."  He looked at the sword in Shoren's hand, "Do you know how to use that?"

"Only what I've seen in the," he paused and said, "I mean, I've seen swords used but I never have fought with one."

"What about the bow and the sling," asked Lex? 

"Oh yeah," answered Shoren, "I lettered in archery and Mom used to fuss at me all the time when I was little for shooting birds and squirrels with a sling and pebbles.  But why did they send this stuff with me?  I thought that the evils were all gone from Thordon."

"Just because there is no evil, that does not mean there is no danger," said Roloft.  "Creatures still have to eat.  And some of the creatures on Thordon are rather fond of the taste of halfelf flesh.  But don't worry, Lex is the best with a sword that I have ever seen.  We'll be safe."

"I'm supposed to be on vacation.  Are we going to go somewhere near the creatures that would eat us," asked Shoren? 

Lex smiled and said, "It isn't our intent to.  But Thordon is still a wild place and you should always be prepared.  I'm sure that's why your folks sent you that armor."

Shoren looked over at where the armor lay on the table. "That armor won't fit me.  It might fit Roloft, but it is way too small for me."

"It will fit you, Shoren," said Roloft, "It will fit anyone.  It’s magic."

Shoren started to say something but Lex spoke before he could. "That was Stephan's armor.  And that means that it is dragonslayer.  Not only will it fit you, but it will bond with your skin and become part of you when you put it on."

"Bond with my skin?"

"Yes. So take everything off before you put it on," said Lex.  "And make sure to put it on before you leave the ship tomorrow."

"Where are we going tomorrow," asked Shoren? 

"Cat promised Shawnreann that we would show you Thordon," said Lex, "We both figured the best place to start would be to introduce you to Adia Lightsong."

"Adia Lightsong," Shoren thought a moment, "she was a voadkin, right?" 

"Is a voadkin," corrected Lex, "But don't be surprised if she appears human when you first meet her.  Voadkin often look human when first meeting human strangers."    

"Excuse me, Sir, but will the entire crew be going to Vranellwood," asked Roloft?   

"No, but I was planning on you coming along.  Unless you'd rather not," said Lex.   

"Oh, Sir," said Roloft, "how could any elf pass up the chance to visit the greatest elven wood in all of Thordon?"

It may have been phrased as a question, but Roloft wasn't waiting for any answers.  He started in about what weapons and armor he would use and he barely noticed when Lex let himself out and closed the door behind him. 

After listening to Roloft ramble on for a while, Shoren changed the subject and said, "Does Lex really think we could run into trouble?"  Roloft looked up and watched Shoren as he stared down at the sword now lying on the table before him. 

"Don't worry, Lex will," Roloft started to say. 

Shoren cut him off in mid-sentence, "Oh I was going to ask him to teach me how to use a sword,"

"Well I can do that," said Roloft. "You don't live as a pirate and not know how to fight."  He thought back to the trashing that he had gotten the first time he fought with a sword and how patient his teacher had been after that first day.  He looked for the words and settled for a humble truth, "I'm not great.  But I could at least show you the basics and then when you talk to Lex, you'd be ready."

Shoren jumped at the offer, "That sounds like a plan.  When can we start?" 

"Let me go get my sword and I'll meet you on deck," said Roloft.

After Roloft left, Shoren decided to try on the armor that he had found in the bag.  He pulled off his shirt and held the shimmering metal shirt in his hands.  He had expected it to feel cold.  But as it slipped down over his shoulders and onto his body, he wasn't sure if it was the cold or the magic that sent a shiver through him. 

The lads met on deck and chose a spot nearest the port side about mid-ship.  The two moved some ropes and barrels out of the way and began to stretch.  Then, they talked about how to hold the sword and when a sword is the best weapon to use.  Some of the crew would watch and snicker as if the two were youngers at play. 

Roloft started out showing his pupil how to stand and move so that he never lost his balance.  Then he showed him ten basic positions to hold the sword and how each position is used for defense and attacks.  They spent the whole of the morning practicing and training.  By the time Cat walked up the stairs with fruit, stuffed rolls and a water skin, Roloft was pleased with his protégé’s accomplishment.   

"You learn quickly," said Cat as she handed the skin to Shoren.  He drank down a long draught and handed it to Roloft. 

"I have a patient teacher," said Shoren, "After lunch, I'd like to put some of this teaching to practical use.  Are you up to sparing," he asked as he looked at Roloft? 

"I believe Roloft has duties that need his attention this afternoon," said Cat, "But I am available for a while if you would like."

"Yes," said the elf who was more tired than he would have liked to admit.  "There are many things that the captain can teach you that I have not yet mastered." 

"Great," said Shoren as he swallowed down a piece of twotemellon. "The more help the better."  He started to rush through lunch so that he could begin.  

But Cat told him that one thing to always remember, "The easiest way to end up in a stomach is to rush into battle while you are filling your own.  Give your body time to settle and rest after you eat if you can.  Otherwise, you'll get halfway into a good fight and lose to the cramps in your own belly."

 Shoren listened and the three of them sat and enjoyed lunch together.  After a few minutes of light conversation, Cat stood and began to stretch.  Roloft excused himself and offered to take the empty tray and skin back to the kitchen.  Shoren drank down the last of the water and smiled as he watched his new friend hurry away.  Then Shoren's attention turned to his hostess. 

Cat took a long stride and then bent her knees to stretch so deep that she was almost sitting on her left boot with her right boot out in front.  In a single movement, that seemed to Shoren to be more fluid than water, she turned and rested onto her right boot with the left one now outstretched.  She stood and unsheathed a most beautiful sword.  Then, with swift sureness, she swung and jabbed it in the air.  If all that wasn't enough to shake poor Shoren up, she then tossed the sword into her left hand and did all the stretches and swings again. 

She turned to Shoren and asked, "Are you ready?"

"I'm gonna get killed," he said.  Cat smiled and promised to start gently. 

As Shoren's confidence grew, so did the difficulty of Cat's attacks against him.  Every once in a while, she would stop and correct his grip or show him a better way to respond to certain moves.  But then she would begin as if their fight was real.  It didn't take long before nearly every off duty hand was on deck and rooting for one or the other of the combatants. 

"Don't let her whip ya, lad," would come from one. 

And "Block higher," would come from another.

While some would call out things like, "That's the way to show him, Captain."   

During the course of the afternoon, everyone added their own bit of advice for the boy they had already grown to admire.  He learned how trolls swing axes with more strength than they actually have.  He learned from Green, how to make the cleanest of jabs so that your opponent doesn't realize he's been hit until it is too late.  And he learned the best way to keep a dragon from swallowing you whole.  By the time the bell rang for dinner, Shoren had put in a full day’s work.   After dinner, Shoren was still pumped and excited from his day.  So when Scurry knocked on his cabin door, he welcomed the company.  The wizard wanted to talk about the computer and see for himself how the history of a world could be held in such a small box.  Shoren loaded in a disk and typed SWORDS.  Immediately the screen filled with pictures and text and Scurry read every word.  Then, he got Shoren to show him how to the change subject to magic and read some more.  

When he finished reading this time, he sat back with an odd look on his face and said, "Why is it that your computer knows so little about magic?  Is it kept secret or do you call it something else on your world?"

Shoren smiled and said, "Much of what you call magic, we call technology.  And it’s no secret.  Youngers know how to control electricity before they can talk.  And almost everyone has a computer like this one.  We even have little machines called cell phones that you can use to talk with folk on the other side of the world."  

Scurry looked confused. "If everyone does magic," said Scurry, "How to wizards support themselves?"

"Well," Shoren thought a minute, "I guess that engineers are the closest things to wizards that we have.  The way they get paid is they figure out how to make machines that allows everyone to use magic easily.  Then workers follow their plans and build the machines and that's how they get paid.  Then stores sell the machines and that's how they get paid."

"Who buys the machines," asked Scurry? 

"Everybody."

"Even the engineers and workers?" 

It was Shoren's turn to look odd, "Well, yeah of course."

"On Thordon, no one buys something that they know how to make for themselves."

Shoren smiled slightly and said, "On earth, no one makes their own stuff.  Almost everyone works for someone else so they can buy the stuff they need for themselves."

Scurry turned off the computer and shook his head.  "I still don't understand how that could work. But I would like to read more on your computer.  Do you think I'll be able to read some more about your world tomorrow?"  Shoren promised the wizard that he would show him more on the computer.  He also told him that he wanted to record information about Thordon onto his computer.  The two agreed to work the next day on what kinds of things should be recorded and then they parted for the night.  Scurry hadn't even gotten back to his cabin by the time Shoren was in his bed and fast asleep. 

JOURNAL ENTRY:  There is no denying it, I am sore.  I learned to fight with a sword yesterday and I am paying for it today.  I've got to do some stretching before I go on deck today.  If I don't, every crew man will laugh because I'm so young and so out of shape.   I also got to talk with Scurry last night.  I always thought Mom and Dad were kind of strange because they always did everything themselves instead  of just buying what they needed.  Scurry made me realize that they weren't all that strange.

Shoren closed the journal and got out of bed.  He slipped the journal into his backpack and bent down to stretch his back and legs.  He got up and gathered fresh clothing and a towel and headed for the deck.  Halfway down the hall, he met with Roloft who was heading for the kitchens for breakfast.  Shoren explained that he wanted to take a swim before he ate and promised to meet the elf later. 

Shoren found the captain and learned how long it would be before they set the sails and if these waters were safe to swim in.  Knowing that he had a few minutes, he hung his towel over the side of the ship and stripped down to shorts.  He then realized that he still had the dragonslayer armor on.  Cat assured him that water would not hurt the armor and so over the side he went. 

The water was warm and pleasant.  He swam around for a couple of minutes and then floated on his back to relax.  Swimming was the closest thing to a bath he had had since he arrived on Thordon.  And it had been so refreshing that he wondered why he hadn't taken the time to do it before.  He thought about bathing and realized that if no one had bathed, they would smell worse than they do.  There must be some way for the crewmen to bathe that he hadn't noticed before. 

"Shoren," a voice called, "Shoren, we're about to get underway."

"I'm coming," he answered and proceeded to climb up the ladder that the voice had let over the side.  "I'm sorry," he said as he got on deck, "I lost track of time."

“Well," said Cat, "Most of the crew take their baths after dark so they have plenty of time to relax and enjoy the water." 

Shoren smiled, apologized again, and grabbed his towel and clothes.  He headed off toward his cabin and got ready for his day.  Cat had called after him that they would be coming into port in a couple of hours and that he needed to get packed up.  He verified that he did know how to ride a horse and that he would be ready on time. 

After getting dressed, Shoren headed for the kitchens.  He asked Throby if he could make his own breakfast that day.  The halfling was a little taken back and wanted to know if his cooking had not been to the lad's liking.  Shoren explained that he wanted to make something special that he didn't think Throby had ever seen.  The next half hour was spent with Shoren showing Throby how to make pizza. 

"It looks as if it would not taste very good," said Throby, "But looks can be deceiving.  This is delicious.  I wish you had showed me this earlier, we could have all had it for the morning meal."  Shoren explained that pizza was usually not considered breakfast food.

"Most people eat pizza for lunch or dinner.  You can put anything on it and make it taste like a whole different thing."  Throby asked what kinds of things were usually put on pizzas and Shoren explained, "Smoked meats and sausages are very popular.  And lots of folk like different kinds of vegetables on theirs.  On my world, mushrooms, onions, and different kinds of peppers are the favorites.  I have some recipes on my computer of other foods of my world.  I could show you some of them if you would like." 

Throby was so excited about the idea of seeing the recipes that he took off his apron, grabbed up the rest of the pizza and toddled off toward Shoren's cabin.  He was halfway out the door before Shoren realized that he'd better get up and go along if he was going to get any more food that morning. 

The two of them were still busy at the computer when the call of "Land," rang out and Hope's Wind came into view of the Plains of Tarabon.  Throby was going with the group and leaving his staff on board for the rest of the crew.  So he made Shoren promise to let him continue copying recipes after they were done with work and travel for the day.   

The work of bringing a fully rigged sailing vessel into port is a site that everyone should see at least once.  Every crew man was busy doing something and Shoren added his strength to ropes that had to be pulled and tied off.  It was exhilarating and Shoren knew that it would be one of the things he would write about in his journal.  

Lex showed Shoren how to best carry all the gear his parents had sent with him.  He packed all of his computer equipment, battery charger, and the bag that Lex told him was magic into his backpack and headed up to the dock.  Cat, Lex, Shoren, Scurry, Roloft, Throby, Trench, and Dungeon were the ones making the journey inland to the camp of Adia Lightsong. 

Horses, and a wagon for Throby had been prearranged and waiting at the dock for them.  The adventurers wasted no time in getting on their way.   Their journey took them from the Port of Hopes, which is a city built where the border meets Arradomin, north east into the heart of the land.  In a few hours’ time, they stopped at Freeone which was little more than a village on the border of Lower Marshdale.  Here the group would rest and have two more join their party. 

The stables welcomed the group and offered their best grains for the horses.   Even though the wars against evil were long past, Lex and Cat were stilled heralded as heroes wherever they went.  One of the women joining the group was named Luka. 

Luka, Shoren came to learn, was the daughter of one of Cat's old bodyguards named Stinger.  She was a dwarven battle rager like her father had been.    Now if you have never heard of a battle rager, they are simply dwarves who, when enraged in battle or get extremely upset, grow to near twice their normal height and fight with near twice their normal strength. 

Prior to the healing of the world, battle ragers were mighty warriors who fought without fear.   But since that time there has been little need for their special talents.  Luka had joined the group because she planned to travel on after the party arrived in Vranellwood.  She had kin in the mountains beyond Omni-ahman that she planned to visit. 

The second person joining the group was a human woman named Pagone'.  She was a cleric and the only sister of Dungeon.  It wasn't often enough that they got to be in the same part of the world.  So when he learned that he would travel near her home, he sent word for her to ride with them so they could spend some time together. 

The horses were fed and rested and Throby fed the group and then took off to the local market for some herbs he would need for dinner.   Once Throby was back, the journey continued and everything seemed as if the whole of the trip was going to be calm and quiet.  They stopped and camped for the night just inside the border of Omni-ahman.  And Throby served the closest thing to tacos that he could find the ingredients for. 

The meat and seasonings were just right.  But the greens that he used were different from the lettuce Shoren was used to.  It made a nice flavor and Throby beamed when Shoren told him that they were the best tacos he had ever had. 

After dinner, Pagone' said she had a feeling that something wasn't right.  So all signs of their camp were cleared away and the company and animals retired to a nearby cave to spend the night.  Scurry cast a couple of spells and then looked at the cleric.  She agreed that she sensed they would all be safe so everyone bedded down for the night. 

In the morning, they rose early. Lex expressed an opinion that if something didn't feel right the night before, then what ever it was might still be around in the light of day.  Cat agreed and they ate light on fruit and bread Throby had made on the ship.  Everything was quickly gathered and everyone mounted their steeds.  Scurry dropped the spells of protection and everyone headed out of the cave. 

Neither Luka nor anyone else sensed any danger in the day so it was assumed that the danger must have been some beast out on a hunt.  The group traveled on toward the heart of the great forest and Shoren reached into his pack for some gear.  He strapped a key pad to his right leg and hooked wires from it to a small camera.  The camera attached to glasses frames and he could wear it over one eye so that whatever he saw, the camera saw. 

Scurry watched every move the lad made and marveled at the wondrous things such a backward world could have come up with.  As he watched Shoren slip a band onto his head and position a microphone near his mouth, Scurry couldn't hold back any more.  

"What are those things," he asked? 

Shoren explained what each thing was and what he would use them for.  He had Scurry put on the camera while he typed different things into the keypad on his leg.  Scurry could see how the camera moved to let him see things far away and then very close up.  The wizard talked about how much this machine could help archers be accurate in battle and Shoren explained that on his world, cameras were used to help weapons that shoot even farther than arrows could.  

Scurry handed the camera back to Shoren and the two of them talked all of the morning about the ways their worlds were the same and how they were different.  Roloft rode alongside of Shoren and added in his opinions on the subject.  But it didn't take long before he bored with analogies and fell back to ride with the others.  At the height of day, they stopped for a quick lunch and rest and then continued on.  By the time Throby would think about finding the ingredients for dinner, they would be in the voadkin camp. 

Apology is in order

I have not written in my blog or posted any chapters in a while and for this I apologize.  One of my responsibilities is that I am one of a few District Leaders in Ogden Utah for CERT.  Because of flooding and dangerous river conditions, I have been tied up every day with that and unable to get any thing else done.  I will post The Dark Rescue chapter 2 in a few minutes.  Thanks for your patience and happy reading.  Oh and remember; book signing this Saturday at Hastings in Ogden from 1 to 5 or until we run out of copies (whichever comes first).  Thanks

The Dark Rescue Chapter 1

"Grandpa, tell us a story," said a girl and boy who were both about five years old.   

"What kind of a story do you want to hear?" asked the grandpa. 

"I want to hear a story about dragons and magicians and neat stuff like that," said the boy as he sat down on the rug next to the old fellow's chair.

"Oh not me, I want to hear about a fairy princess who grows up and marries a handsome prince," protested the girl as she chose a warm comfy spot on Grandpa's lap. 

"That's girly stuff.  Tell us about how a hero beat up and captured a really evil dude and then all the people gave him all kinds of presents because he had saved them," said the boy. 

"My, my. That's a lot to put into just one story.  Do you really want to hear about all those things?" said the grandpa as he scratched his chin and thought about the stories he knew and the places he had been. 

"Yes grandpa, we really do," said the girl as she snuggled deeper into the old man's lap. 

"Well, if you really want to hear about all those things, then the best story I could tell you is the one about how your daddy helped save a world."

"My dad helped save a world?" said the boy in disbelief, "How did he do that?  Did he take pictures of somebody who was going to steal an atomic bomb or something?  And then he gave the picture to the police and they caught the guy and that's how he saved the world?"

The grandfather looked at the boy and smiled as he listened to his imagination rattle on.  "Well it would sure have been something if that had really happened.  But, the story I'm going to tell you is a true story.  And do you know why I'm going to tell you a true story?"  Both children shook their heads so the old man answered his own question. "I'm going to tell you a true story because they are the best kind.  Now get on up here with your sister and let me tell you about what happened when your daddy was just a younger.  In fact, he was just a little older than you two are now.

When I was growing up on Thordon, most of that growing up was without a mommy or a daddy.  I suppose that had my mother lived to see me stand as a man, she would have shed as many tears from frustration as from pride.  But, she was not around.  So as my son's height grew towards my own, I had no pattern to fall back on. 

Shawnreann and I came to this world just after Thordon had been healed.  Now by Thordon's time, it had been five or so years that we had been away.  But time marches differently here than on Thordon, so almost twenty earth years had passed along. 

Shoren Christopher Lovengat was born with all the magic and charisma that you would expect of a halfelf of royal decent.  Even though we were new to the land, everyone found him most irresistible.  The folk who lived near us would flock about just to gaze at the child.  He had exquisite features. 

His hair reminded you of the rays of sunshine that break through the clouds and reveal as bright a noon as any you have seen.  And his eyes were the color of fresh clover honey as it sits in the hive waiting to be treasured.  When a woman came into his view, those eyes brightened so that all who looked upon them were sure that he would be a most handsome man once he was full grown. 

Before Shoren could talk, he would wiggle his little fingers on the flutes his mother made and blow out whimsical little childlike tunes that entranced his playmates and endeared him even more to the neighborhood mothers.  When he was learning to walk, he would watch the ways that other folk moved and as soon as he could stand alone, began to emulate the grace and agility he had seen and admired in them.   

He seemed to pick up at a remarkable age the ideas and talents that would lead him down the paths I had trod in my youth.  And when I would see young girls try to sneak him kisses, it would make me think of Sheerone and the ladies who gave me refuge when I didn't really need any. 

Do not misunderstand.  You're not listening to the bragging of a father blindly rambling.  Shoren spent the whole of his youth excelling in everything.  

In school, he had the highest grades.  In the community, he was always being recognized as an outstanding citizen or scout.  And you can be certain that he did more than most to fill the school's trophy case in athletics.  His trophies included archery, swimming, track & field, and soccer.  It seemed as though there wasn't anything that he couldn't do.  But in the pursuit of all this glory, a rift began to form.  

From the first day of his life, Shawnreann and I taught our son in the language of our fathers.  Night after night Shoren would fight off sleep so that he could listen to the tales of a far-away world of dragons and elves and magic and such.  But as Shoren got older and more involved with his friends, what they thought became more important than the memories and dreams we wanted to share with him. 

It started out small.  When we spoke to him in elven, he would only answer in common or English as you call it.  And if conversation turned to the subject of Thordon, he would make some excuse and leave the room. 

He was so bright and so quick to learn.  He was never without a laptop computer.  He even bought what gear he needed to record information onto disks because he never wanted to miss a thing.  It didn't make sense to us that he would wish to know so little of who and what he truly was.  It was when Shawnreann and I approached him about going home for a visit that the rift turned into a chasm. 

"For Pete’s sake Dad," Shoren said angrily, "I'm almost eighteen years old.  You don't really expect me to still believe all those fairy tales and bedtime stories.  Do you?" 

"Shoren, the stories your father told you about Thordon are true.  I know, I was there," said Shawnreann. "And if it wasn't true, how could we have taught you the elven tongue?"

"Elven tongue?  You're as bad as Dad is," said Shoren, "Where are you really from, Scotland or somewhere in Ireland?  I don't care where it is.  I just expected you to tell me the truth." 

Shawnreann started to say something but before she could, Shoren cried out, "C'mon Mom, I'm darned near an adult.   Level with me."

I took Shoren by the arm and pulled him to face me. "Your mother has never lied to you.  We are from Thordon.  You are halfelf.  And there is magic running through you that you haven't begun to understand."

Shoren jerked his arm from my grasp and said, "Get off it Dad.  I'm too old for your stories."  And he turned and stormed out of the house. 

All that afternoon, while he was gone, Shawnreann and I talked about just how Shoren might best learn the truth about Thordon for himself.  We came up with a plan to send him home.  We plotted and planned out every detail.  Since his graduation from high school was only weeks away.  Hints would be accidentally dropped of a gift to beat all gifts. 

A few days before the big surprise, Shoren heard his mother and me talking about an ocean voyage and the stage was set.  He confronted us about his gift being a cruise and we gave up trying to keep it from him.  On the morning after graduation, he was packed and eager to embark on his first adventure away from home. 

The talk that Shoren had only heard part of was just after Shawnreann had contacted Lex and Cat about taking our son on their ship and introducing him to the things he should know about our world.  They would have a cabin all ready for him.  If he was on board ship, we felt the shock of being in a world he didn't believe existed might be easier to take.  It could at least be easily controlled. 

I packed a bag of holding that I had stored away with the tools, instruments and weapons that Shawnreann and I had found most usable when we were back home.  I even packed my old set of dragonslayer armor so that his mother could be certain he'd come home in one piece.  Everything was ready.  The hardest part of the journey would be getting Shoren to willingly step through a portal that would take him home.  

Aside from her instruments, setting this up was the best magic I ever saw Shawnreann do.  She placed the portal at the front door of the house.  Then I went out the back door and around to the front drive.  I pretended to check things out on our car as if I was preparing to go somewhere and Shawnreann loaded Shoren up with his backpack and my bag of holding.  She called to me from the window that Shoren would bring everything out in one trip and that she would be out in just a minute. 

Shoren asked what she had in the old sack and she said that it was some old things we were going to drop off on the way.  Shawnreann said that she would check the back door lock and meet him out front.  Then, she gave her son a kiss on the cheek and headed for the back of the house.   Shoren shifted his backpack and the bag of holding so that both of his hands were free.  Then he picked up his laptop and reached for the door.  In the next moment, he stepped out our front door and onto Hope's Wind. 

JOURNAL ENTRY:  The sky was blue.  And the sea was the right shade of green.  The air smelled with the right freshness of sunshine.  But with all this, I could not deny that something within me declared that I was no longer on the earth that I had grown up to know. I looked about.  The vessel on which I stood seemed almost oriental in design.  It had one great sail that rose up from the rear of the ship like a dragon's fin rising up out of the water.  The only other structures in my view were a small room up near the ship's wheel, a mast behind that, and what looked like a little house sitting below the sail.  About mid ship, I could see a large square opening that was lined on two sides by stairs that led down toward the belly of the vessel.  And at both sides of the hull, there were what looked like paddle wheels that stuck out into the water. 

The folk that I could see off near the helm seem either unaware or uninterested in my sudden arrival and I thought that perhaps if I closed my eyes, the hallucination would vanish and I would be back home again.  But as I closed my eyes, the sounds of the sea did not disappear.  When I cracked one eye open just a bit, the only thing that was different was that a couple was quickly walking toward me. 

"Shoren, you’re right on time," said the man with his hand stretched out in greeting.  "I'm Lex and this is Cat.  She's the captain, but I still like to pretend that I'm in charge."

The woman broke in, "I was so happy to hear that you could join us on this voyage.  When your mother told us how handsome you had grown, I thought she must be exaggerating.  But to see you now, well I'm just glad I'm the only woman who lives on board. We'd never get any work done around here."

I stood there shaking the man's hand and my mind rushed back to stories of my childhood.  Lex was the Death Knight who was redeemed and then help save the kings.  Cat was his wife who had become a pirate in order to find him.  I tried to speak but it took me a few moments before I could make any words come out. 

"Where am I and how did I get here?" was all I could say.  I wanted to make sure I had said it right so I said it again, "Where am I, and how did I get here?"

"Why you are home, Dear, on Thordon.  And this is my favorite ship.  She's called Hope's Wind.  Isn't she lovely?"  The woman smiled gently, softened her tone and said, "You came through a magic portal and you are perfectly safe.  Your mother and father are dear friends of ours and we promised to show you Thordon for them." 

Lex lifted the old sack from my shoulder and said, "I know this must be a bit of a shock.  After all, this is your first time on Thordon.  But the tales you grew up hearing of our world are all true." He took me by the arm and we started for the stairs. "Why don't we show you to your cabin and you can take some time to relax and unpack." 

"Throby is so excited about you coming that he has been baking all morning," said Cat as we walked down to the first level of cabins. "I'll let him know you are here.  A bit of lunch will settle your spirits."  We reached a door which Cat unlocked and then handed me the key.  A boy walked up behind her and dipped his head in a short bow of respect. 

"Roloft here will be close by and ready to help you in any way.  All you need do is call."

I looked at the boy as my hosts walked back toward the stairs.  In the face, we looked about the same age but he was a good foot shorter than me.  I thought at first that he must have been ill as a child.  Because he was altogether sort of smallish and frail.  He was nice enough looking.  He had the curliest hair and it made him have kind of a wild look.  I realized that sticking out from under those curls were the tips of ears that were distinctly pointed.  The boy knew I was looking him over and he grinned nervously.  He spoke.  And even though it had not been English, I understood it to be an offer to help me with my bags. 

"Oh I can get this," I told him, "But Cat did say something about lunch.  It isn't going to be anything weird is it?" 

Roloft looked up at me.  "I'm sorry.  Would you rather I spoke in common?" 

It was then that I knew I had to face facts. "Are you an elf?"

"Well of course I'm an elf," said Roloft as he picked up the sack that Lex had set down.  "What did you think I was, a troll?" He stopped and looked at me.  "Have you never before seen an elf?"

I walked in and plopped down on the bed. "I've never before seen anything and honestly I'm a little confused," I told him. "This morning, I was getting ready to go on a cruise and now I'm on a ship right out of some swashbuckler's movie complete with an elf boy as my personal sidekick."

"Boy? I dare say that I'm older than you by thirty or forty years," said Roloft, "But you are not the only one who is confused.  You use words that I do not understand.  Sidekick, I think I understand but what are cruise, swashbuckler, and movie?" 

"You may call it something different, but everyone knows what movies are.  You watch them on television or in theaters."

"Oh I've been to a theater," said the elf as his face brightened.  "Just after I first went to Mythrindell, I saw a ballad of Stephan's acted out."

"No, I don't mean live theater.  Movies are pictures, moving pictures.  Wait a minute.  I'll show you."  I reached into my backpack and got out a disk.  I slipped it into the laptop and turned it on. A video of New York started playing and Roloft stared at the screen. 

"What magic is this," asked Roloft?  "Even Insees are not so small as the folk living in your box."

I turned off the computer and shook my head. "They don't live in the box.  It’s just a picture of the people.  They live in a city on my world.  And trust me there's nothing magic about it."

"This is more like magic than anything I've seen," said Roloft.  He was so busy looking at my computer that he didn't notice the knock at the door. I was digging in my backpack and asked him to answer it.  Whoever it was knocked again and Roloft opened it so quickly that the person behind the door was startled too. 

"Whoa lad," a voice sounded, "It’s only me. Captain said that you and our guest would be wanting some lunch."

"Come on in," I called, "I'm starved."  I wasn't paying attention when he came in and set the tray on the table.  I turned to thank him but no one was there. 

"I'm down here, lad," said the little man.  I looked down and before me stood a round little fellow who couldn't have been more than two or three feet tall.  He had a broad grin and shining eyes.  I couldn't tell what color hair he had because he wore a cloth tied about his head.  But my first impression was that he had a most pleasing temperament. 

"You're Throby.  And that would make you a..."

"Halfling, my boy, and head of the kitchen.  So if there's something special you get a taste for, I'm the one to see," said Throby.  He looked at me as if he could read my mind and said, "I realize that you have been away so you've never seen a halfling before. But surely, there be folk as small as me on your world as well."

"Only kids," I blurted out.

"Goats," asked Roloft? 

I had to think of the word Dad had used.  "Youngers.  Only youngers are as small as you."

"Well, if you think I am small, wait till you see a gnome," he said.  Then he turned to swat Roloft on the knee and said, "What's he going to be thinking if Miss Ka-ree comes flitting about?"  His own joke filled his heart with laughter and he toddled out of the cabin and back down the hall. 

Now Dad had told me once that a halfling's laugh is contagious and I suppose that must be true. Because as we listened to Throby's laughter fade out of earshot, we couldn't help but smile.  The smiles turned to giggles and before we knew it, we were rolling around laughing our hearts out.  It was a good thing too.  Because when we finally did stop laughing, we were both pretty much over the shock and a friendship filled the space where fear had been. 

Journey of Mythrindell chapter 2

Cat tapped on the wall near the open door of the cabin.  She smiled as she watched the odd little man scurry about fiddling with this and doodling at that and mumbling things like, "Boddle," and, "Why didn't some idiot think of that before?" 

"Scurry," called Cat.  The little man kept on with his work like she had never spoken.  "Scurry," she called louder. 

"Just a moment, I have to finish this." 

While he worked Cat looked around the mess he called his cabin.  There was a hammock in the far corner.  There was also a table and some chairs hidden somewhere under some of the piles of tomes and scrolls.  The main space of the room was taken up with a long work table covered in bottles full of bubbling liquids and trays that held everything from small squirming things to bits of twigs, scales and small gem stones.  Cat started to call his name again but before her mouth opened, he held up one hand to quiet her for just a few moments longer. 

He poured a red liquid into a flask half full of a green one.  The result was the formation of white crystals.  The odd little man carefully picked out one of the crystals and tossed it out the window of his cabin.  As the crystal touched the water outside the ship, an explosion rocked the ship and sent a splash of water twenty feet into the air. 

"Oh boddle," said Scurry.  He plopped down with his chin resting on his hand and he turned to face his captain and friend. 

"That's quite a splash you created," she said.

He looked out the window with a disgusted look on his face.  "It wasn't supposed to make a splash.  It was supposed to be silent and make all the force go down.  I need to add some ebon essence.  And if I cut back on the jade scale just a bit that might just do it."  He was turning back to his work space and had already forgotten she was there when she called his name again. 

"Scurry, I know how much you detest being interrupted but I need something done.  And I need it done now."

He looked up and stared at her for a moment as if he were trying to make a transfer from one mindset to another.  She smiled and waited.  She knew by that look that he was cataloging all his thoughts and ideas so that when he spoke again, his attention would be all hers.

She watched her friend as he prepared himself for conversation.  At five feet tall, he was actually taller than he seemed.  But he spent so much time bent over his creations that you would think he was a tiny little man.  By all his coloring and body build most folk, at first glance, mistakenly assumed he was an elf; for Scurry had neat silvery white hair and brilliant indigo colored eyes.  But his ears showed no telltale point. 

He was actually quite nice looking except for the disks of thick polished glass that he had fixed in a framework of wire and wore in front of his eyes.  He called them glasses and claimed they helped him see better.  They may have, but they certainly didn't make him look better.  More often than not, even here in the shadoworld, children laughed and teased when he walked by. 

Cat could see a different look enter the creases of his face and she knew that her brilliant companion was about to speak.  She gathered her thoughts and readied her request.  Once Scurry spoke, he would be ready to do what ever she needed.  But if she dawdled, he might jump ahead of her thoughts and start finishing her sentences again and she hated when he did that. 

"Cat, did you need something?" he asked it as if she had just walked in the door. 

"Yes.  You know that viewer that you put in Gothra's cabin?  I want another one made."  She had closed the door behind her as she started to speak.  Scurry picked up on her closing the door.  Actually he never missed anything.  He just was sort of selective on what he gave enough importance to acknowledge at any given time.  He looked intently at her eyes and tried to discern her thoughts.

"Who don't you trust?" he asked.

She realized he was doing it again and she turned her eyes away.  "You know I hate it when you do that. And don't worry it isn't who you think.  There was a neatow on that ship we took last night.  I can't explain why, but I have a feeling we have met before." 

"Could you have?" he asked.

"Before last night, I had never met a neatow face to face.  So either I saw him in the company of someone else, or he was not a neatow when I knew him."

"So what cabin do you want me to fix up for him?" asked Scurry. 

"He's getting Gothra's cabin.  Clean up that inside room that the head troll used.  And put a viewer into it before he moves in.  Oh also, don't forget to put the sensory block around the new room.  I don't want that gith knowing anything that I don't choose to tell him."

"What do I do with the troll?" 

"The neatow did it last night.  In fact, thanks to that neatow and his servants, there are several open quarters on this ship.  I suspect that some of the crewmen from the freighter will choose to join the crew rather than face the alternative.  Funny how many would rather join us than face charges back in their home ports." 

"How soon do you want to tell Gothra he's been demoted?" asked Scurry. 

"Oh he already knows.  The neatow took care of that last night as well.  I've sent Gothra to run some errands for me.  By the time he gets back, I want the neatow in his cabin and his things dumped into the new room."

"Dumped?" 

"He made a big enough fool of himself last night that he needs to be certain just how not pleased with him I am." 

"Ok, dumped it shall be.  I'll have a couple of trolls do the moving.  That should take care of it.  I sense there is something else about this neatow that you have not told me." 

"I don't know what to think, Scurry old friend. My heart almost skipped a beat last night when he told me his name." 

"What's his name?" 

"Lex.  An old friend back home used to call my husband that.  For a split second it was as if it was he walking beside me."  She looked down for a moment and then back at her wizard friend.  "He claimed that he and his companions just happened to be on that ship.  He said he holds no allegiance to Dalvar.  I've got to know if he's telling the truth or if one of them is a spy."

"I'll set up the room for Gothra and have Lex's cabin made up nice.  If he is a servant of Dalvar's, we'd better make a good impression." 

"Oh, while you're setting up his quarters, make space for his two companions.  One is a giant and the other is a tiny elf.  From what I can tell, the three of them are inseparable." 

"A giant?  How am I supposed to make room for a giant in Gothra's old space?" asked Scurry. 

"The cabin next to his is now empty as well.  Knock out an opening in the wall and connect the two with a door," said Cat.  

"You are placing his servants above Gothra as well?" asked Scurry. 

"The elf is a formidable wizard and the giant fought like he alone was ten men.  They both conducted themselves as I would want my first hands to act.  And for all I know, one of them may be the real spy. These three are smart and they are fearless.  I've not seen three move more as one since I left the Land East."  Something tells me, we'll all be better off if we can keep an eye on all of them at once." 

"Oh Gothra is going to be mad," observed the wizard.  "He's liable to try something stupid." 

"Why do you think I've always insisted on a viewer in his room?  He always tries something stupid.  Just keep an eye on him and keep me informed."The ship lurched a bit and they could tell that they had just docked into port.  "That's my cue.  Cat the pirate has to make her appearance.  How long will it take you to get the cabin ready?" 

"By the time you have given them the tour of the island, all will be ready here.  How long is Gothra going to be gone?" 

"My errand shouldn't take more than a couple of hours.  So, he'll probably be back in about four.  I'm sure he'll stop off somewhere and get into trouble." 

"You know you depend too greatly on Gothra's weaknesses," said Scurry. 

"Oh I'm not depending on Gothra for anything," she said. "I just realize that his ambition keeps him on just a tight enough leash for me to keep track of." She opened the door and started to leave.  Then she turned back and added an afterthought."I want Lex's viewer hooked into my quarters only. I want to know firsthand whatever he is up to." 

"Yes ma'am."  Scurry gathered up some mechanical looking things and started to work on the viewer.  He was already deep in concentration by the time she left to go up on deck.The crew did their jobs so well that all she had to do was watch as the two ships were brought up to the dock and lashed into place.  Just as the last rope was secured a large head popped up out of the water off the port bow of the freighter.

 "She's all set, captain," called the fog giant.  "The freighter's not going anywhere until you want her to." 

"Thank you, Tramua," called Cat.  "I'm coming over."  She climbed down the plank and started onto the towed freighter.  Lex was just coming topside when she arrived on board.

 "My lady," he greeted her.  "Since I am apparently your captive, I will ask what you intend to do with me?" 

She thought to herself that this creature was far too smooth to be the kind of creature she had heard the common neatow was.  She greeted Lex and invited him to join her for a tour of her island.  Stark put Rand up on his shoulder and the two of them followed Lex as they departed the ship.  As they walked, the same two body guards joined them.  This time, Rand could tell more about the pair.

He had learned the battle dwarf's name was Stinger.  He had followed the captain to the shadoworld from the Land East.  Stinger was all of about three and a half feet tall and just heavy enough to make obviously his healthy appetite.He had black hair and black eyes and wore what seemed to Rand to be too much clothing for the warmth of the day.  His broadcloth breeches were tucked tightly into tall sturdy looking boots.  A long sleeved shirt was belted at the waist and tucked into long gloves that he was never without. 

From the talk the trolls had had last night over the flasked ale, it was made known that what Stinger lacked in wisdom and intelligence, he made up for in loyalty.  In their former homeland, he had fought along-side the good lady and to this day would strike down any being who spoke ill of her.  Rand suspected that hidden deep within him was a love for the fair captain that he would never willingly reveal. 

While Lex was making ready to greet the captain, Rand had mentioned what he had learned of Stinger to him.  Lex thought back to Greenhope's hills and recalled the little warrior that had lived two farms over.  It pleased him to know that the dwarf had been a good enough friend to protect Cat even here in the shadoworld.

The other bodyguard who followed Cat was almost as different from Stinger as Stark was from Rand.  His name was Rage.  And though he wasn't quite as tall as Stark, at eight feet tall he still qualified as a giant.  He weighed every bit of three hundred fifty pounds and made an imposing sight following Cat around.  When he was in the grips of battle, he kept hold of another battle dwarf like it was a weapon or shield. 

It had become a practice of the largest giants in the crew to pick up heavily armed battle dwarves and throw them at opposing forces.  The one who usually fought with Rage wore spiked armor that made him serve well as a projectile when thrown with enough force. The practice won many battles.  But it wasn't very good for the dwarves.  Battle dwarves had a tendency to be a little weak on the intelligence side.  But like Stinger, they never let a comrade down in a battle or need. 

Cat acted the hostess as they walked about the island.  She explained that Lex and his companions were not looked on as prisoners but rather as guests.  Her island was relatively small as islands go.  A normal sized man could walk all the way around its shoreline in little more than two hours.  It was mostly round with small hills rising up toward the center.  So walking across the island could take longer than walking around it.

The soil of the island was a sandy base rich with humus.  Several small palm trees dotted just in from the shoreline.  And Cat found that any herbs, flowers, and other plants that were introduced to the island flourished.  There was a lush garden growing at the uppermost point of the island.  And that garden was kept as the private refuge of the captain.  It was well known that anyone who stepped into that garden without her express permission was subject to extreme punishment. 

Where the island met the water, the bottom sloped gradually and then dropped off to an immeasurable depth just about twenty feet off shore.  Along the north end of the island there were some long coral reefs.  The reefs at the south end also had one great boulder that was about fifty feet across.  Rumor had it that the area of the rock, as it was called, was bewitched and haunted; because all who had ever swam out near it, never returned. 

Because of the strait drop-off, both the east and west sides of the island are perfectly suited as ports.  When Cat first set up the island as her port, she used floats to support decking from ship to shore. Once Scurry joined her, he devised a suspension system that, with anchors to what bottom existed before the drop-off, supported decking strong enough to put permanent buildings on.

Through the years that Cat had kept her headquarters on that island, dozens of kin and kind had made their homes there.  A floating deck had eventually been erected to hold housing and extra kitchens.  That floating community was attached by bridges to decking set up at the north end of the island.  Paths had been smoothed out over the hills to connect the community to the two ports of the island and the garden in its center.  An arena was set up at the base of the hills on the east side.  During the course of her travels, many artisans had decided to add their talents to the Death Knight's entourage. 

Cat felt letting them set up shops along the paths would be good for everyone.  So those who called Cat's island home could have the best of many things without ever having to leave home. There was no wildlife, save it be birds that flew in and out and what animals ships brought in to be raised on the island for meat.  Fishing was best off the bridges at the north end of the island.  No fish were ever caught off the south end. 

Cat invited Lex to join her crew and offered him a place among her most trusted associates.  He was handed keys to the cabin being prepared for him.  And Lex was assured that his two companions would be treated as champions among her crew.It was clear to everyone they passed, that this neatow was going to be the new and powerful second to the captain.  By touring the island with him, Cat let everyone know that Lex was her personal hand and a being to be feared and respected.  By the time they returned to the Death Knight, only Scurry was privy to the fact that all might not be as it appeared with Lex and his companions. 

Cat had a ship's boy show the three new crew members to their quarters.  Rand cast a spell of detection as they entered the rooms to check for magic and alignments.  He read that the rooms had been cleansed of all traces of its former tenant.  But as to magic, there was a faint glow in one corner of Lex's room that he would need to investigate further at a later time.

The rooms were elegant enough to almost be called opulent.  Rich wood trimmed upholstered walls done all in warm hues of blues and purple.  Curtains draped across the windows that were printed in delicate views of clouds and the sea.  A spread covering the bed matched its print to the curtains exactly.  And plush carpeting that covered the floor picked up on the blues of the walls. 

The bed itself was sort of a mix between a hammock and a large brass bed.  It had a firm mattress that sat on an ornate brass frame hanging from the ceiling. As the ship rocked, the bed would remain still and allow its occupant to rest soundly.  Along the top of the bed was a pile of pillows that gave the impression of being as soft as if you would be sleeping on air itself. 

Nearest the outer wall of the room sat a table and four chairs.  Each chair was covered in a fabric like that which covered the bed and windows.  And inset into the table top was a lamp and places for four goblets to sit.  A locking cabinet with glass doors sat against the wall that divided Lex's quarters from Rand and Stark's.  It held racks of fine china and crystal goblets.  When the lower doors were opened, they revealed a variety of fine wines and exotic dried fruits from around Thordon.

The whole of the place struck Lex as a room prepared for royalty.  He knew that such a great effort was made on their behalf in the chance that one or all of them might be of Dalvar's elect.  He decided that for the while, he would enjoy his wife's hospitality, regardless of why she was being hospitable. 

He was just settling the last of his things into his cabin when the latch at the door started to jiggle.  Stark opened the door and glared down at the face of the gith who had been humiliated just the night before.  Gothra looked at his belt and then raised his eyes to meet the gaze of the servant of his enemy. 

"What are you doing in my cabin?" demanded Gothra. Lex asked who was at the door and Stark simply stepped to one side.  Gothra saw the changes to the cabin before he saw whose room it now was.  "What have you done to my cabin?"  He started to walk into the room and Stark put one of his massive hands on his chest to stop him. 

"My lord did not invite you in," said the giant.

"Invite me in?  This is my cabin.  Who invited you in?" demanded the gith.

Just then a diabolus walked up behind Gothra and spoke.  "Is there a problem my lord?"

"Yes, this creature has insulted me for the last time.  If everything else wasn't bad enough, now he has moved into my cabin," said Gothra. 

The diabolus didn't respond.  He just stood looking into the room still waiting for an answer. 

"Do you think you could find some cabin boy to show this pittance of a sailor to whatever dust bin it is that he is supposed to sleep in," said Lex.

"Yes, my Lord Lex.  I will do it myself.  Is there anything else you have need of sir?" asked the creature. 

"No, Ethos.  Once the garbage has been taken out, I'm certain that this cabin will be just fine," answered Lex. 

"Garbage?  What do you mean, your Lord Lex?  I command you to get this thing out of my cabin!" demanded Gothra.

Ethos smiled at how smoothly Lex had battered Gothra.  He would enjoy every moment of the trip dragging Gothra down to the lower deck where he would now be quartered.  The gith had always been his least favorite member of the whole of the crew.Rand had a feeling that Ethos wasn't the only crewman who was enjoying Gothra's social face slapping.  Perhaps, Lex might just be the means of getting them in tight with the crew all by himself.  At the rate he was going, even if the gith did try to take back his rank and status, his own men might defend Lex against him. 

When Ethos reached the lowest level of cabins he all but threw Gothra into the hallway.  He shoved the gith down the hall until they reached the inner room he would have to call his own from now on. 

"I will have your heart for this," swore Gothra.  "You'll never forget the wrath you have earned this day." 

"I will warn you only this one time," said Ethos.  "Never again speak to me or any other superior unless you are given permission to do so."  He opened the door of a room and said, "Take your place, and do not forget it."

"My place, among the trolls?  Not even Cat would dare go this far," said Gothra. 

Ethos struck Gothra across his head and spoke harshly.  "I warned you not to forget your place.  If you speak of your captain, call her by her title.  Only those of the inner circle are allowed to speak her name of choice.  If you dare do this thing again, I will give you to the trolls as a practice target."

He shoved Gothra into the room and slammed the door.  It was all he could do to hold back his laughter until he reached the next higher deck.  Ethos was certain that he, along with at least a good many of his crewmates, were going to really enjoy watching that gith suffer for the next few days.  He was almost looking forward to Gothra slipping up and calling the captain by her chosen name again.

Back in his little room, Gothra sat and thought of what he should do.  He had a very real knowledge that his treatment of hirelings had not made him many friends.  Now that they all outranked him, he would have to really watch himself.  If he didn't do something quick, he could end up as little more than fodder for the sharks. 

"I wonder if Dalvar does know Lord Lex," he said to himself.  "With my luck, if this guy isn't one of his elect, Dalvar would probably want him to be."  He thought some more and reasoned with himself, "Maybe if Lord Lex is a bit too cocky, Dalvar will come to hate him as much as I do.  Then it wouldn't matter what Captain Cat wants.  Lord Dalvar will see my good service and I will be the captain who makes that half goat creature a practice target for trolls." 

Meanwhile, back up on the higher deck, Lex had decided to tour the ship name after him.  The Death Knight was a large and truly impressive vessel.  Stem to stern, she was a good one hundred eighty feet in length and she was all of fifty feet at her widest point.  As Lex walked about the ship he decided that Cat must have designed it herself.  Every bit of space was used to its utmost potential. The belly of the ship held rooms set up for storage and booty taken is battle.  Along the very center of the lowest deck was a strip of small dark rooms.  Since some creatures of the shadoworld didn't care for light, these rooms were most often the quarters for trolls and orcs and such.  Those beings are the lowest ranking that live on the ship.  Their duties are often guarding things that no one wants or cleaning the parts of the ship that no one else wants to clean. 

Above those storage rooms and cabins was a deck primarily filled with cabins for the next level rank.  Each of these cabins were placed around the outer edges of the ship so that all of them small windows.  They had bunks for four and places for a few personal effects.  Since pirates were usually not the trusting kind, it didn't surprise Lex that most kept that which they held most dear on their persons. A hall way led all the way around that deck with two halls cutting through from one side to the other.  Centered on those two hallways were stairways that led down to the lower deck and up to the next level. 

The section between the sets of stairs was an armory.  It had to be the best organized room that Lex had ever seen.  Doors centered on opposite walls allowed entry from both ends of the room.When you walked in two crewmen were there to assist in finding whatever you needed in an instant. 

Shelves down one side of the room held bins full of knives, daggers, and swords that were organized by size and magical properties.  Another set of shelves held racks of throwing axes, war hammers, and battleaxes.  Each of those was also set by size and strength needed to wield them. Along the other wall stood racks of various armors.  Plate mail, chain mail, ring mail, and magical armors all hung clean and neat waiting for someone to need them.  On a shelf just in from that wall held bucklers, shields, and helms of all varieties.  Down the center of the room between the two sections, was a rack holding all manner of bows and crossbows. 

At each end of that center rack and each set of shelves throughout the room, a dozen quivers hung neatly on pegs.  Each quiver was well stocked with either quarrels for the crossbows or flight arrows for the long bows.  Lex could see by the look of this room that if the Death Knight were ever attacked, hundreds of crewmen could be equipped with weapons and armor in a remarkably short time. 

As he continued his tour, he found that opposite the doors to the armory were well stocked kitchens and storage rooms.  With two working kitchens, meal times were as organized as everything else.  One of the kitchens made breakfast and did all the baking for the ship.  The other kitchen cooked vegetables and roasted meats all day so that lunches and dinners were always ready on time.The front door of each kitchen opened into a serving area.  Crewmen of low status came in and after getting their food in a serving line, would sit at long tables and eat right there in the kitchens. 

Manners were surprisingly good for most of the crew.  It seems that if a crewman ate badly enough that others could not enjoy their meals, that crewman was barred from the kitchen for the next meal.

The rear of each kitchen had two doors.  One was for servants to carry trays of food to their respective masters.  The other was for dirty trays and dishes being brought back in.  The captain and inner circle were always served first.  While the ship was docked at the island, the captain's and inner circle's meals were prepared by Cat's favorite chefs on the island. 

The next level up was almost all cabins.  Around the outside were suites for the captain's inner circle.  Each had furnishing much like the ones in Lex's cabin.  Like his own room, most of the suites were about ten feet from door to outer wall and about twenty feet across.  Five foot wide hallways separated the inner circle from the cabins where their individual first hands lived.  Each man was close enough to hear if he were called or if there was trouble at his master's door.

The area between the stairways on this deck had rooms set up for baths and water storage.  Off to the sides of those rooms and behind the stairs were doors that opened into rooms stocked with towels, linens, and cleaning supplies.  Only the first hands were allowed in to clean the rooms of the inner circle. 

Lex suspected that this was a privilege that was earned and therefore cherished.  Each of those called upon to be firsts for the inner circle were regarded much like their masters.  No one was allowed to speak to them without their permission.  Any command they gave, was obeyed without question.  And any disobedience to their orders was dealt with extremely harshly. 

Up from that level was the main deck of the ship.  Between the stairs on this uppermost level were the private quarters of the captain.  All in all her quarters were about twenty by twenty five feet.  Cat enjoyed glass windows on every wall of her cabin.  They were set in tracks so that when the temperature was hot, she could raise portions of the glass and let breezes through to cool herself.  She also had velvet draped from the ceiling that she could lower over those windows and have all the privacy of a solid wall.

Lex could see through the windows and inside the captain's quarters.  Her bed was almost identical to the one that hung in his cabin.  Her room was done in burgundy.  Pillows of rich greens and pink roses accented the room.  It struck Lex how firmly she held control of her ship while her private quarters showed such femininity and grace. 

Her table was set with a pitcher and goblets.  A bowl of grapes and other small fruits and nuts sat centered on it.  The wall of her room nearest the table had a curtain of fabric that matched her linens draped across it.  Lex supposed that behind those drapes, Cat kept those things that all women held secret and delicate.  It pleased Lex to see these traces of the old Cat still evident.  One thing that made him smile was the glimpse of a toy wooden horse that sat on a stand near her bed.  He had carved that horse the day she had told him he was going to be a father.

 After seeing the room that his wife had created for herself, Lex didn't feel much like looking at the rest of the ship.  He would have rather just stayed there and basked in the view so classic to Cat's style.  Voices off to his left caught his attention.  When he headed that way, he found that just in back of the captain's quarters was a map room.The room was as well organized as the armory had been below decks.  One wall held racks of maps of the Land West all neatly rolled and labeled.  From the care and detail given to those maps, Lex surmised that The Death Knight might have other interests than just piracy. 

The opposite wall was a mirror image of the first.  The bins were labeled with the names of Land East kingdoms.Between the walls of maps were two tables centered in the small room.  Each table was slightly slanted and had a frame of wood around it.  Large maps were set on the tables and the frames held them in place so that they didn't move or blow in the sea breezes.  Beside the door Lex was looking through sat another smaller table with a map of Thordon fastened in place on its top. 

At one side of the back wall was one door that opened onto the passage between this room and the captain's quarters.  Beside that door was a rack full of map rolls like the other two walls.  The labels that Lex could see revealed that they covered water depths, coastlines, shipping lanes, and known hazard areas.  One small bin was marked ‘UNCONFIRMED MAGIC'.  Another bin was labeled `WRONG'.  Lex laughed when he saw that and caught the attention of a wererat who appeared to be in charge. 

"What do you want?" he called to Lex.

He seemed threatened or angry.  Lex couldn't tell which. He smiled again and turned to finish his tour of the deck.  That was not the response the wererat expected to get from a stranger new to the crew.  He would have to make an example of this disrespectful creature.

"I asked you a question.  And I didn't give you permission to leave." declared the wererat. 

Lex didn't even turn around to face him when he answered.  He just called back over his shoulder, "I don't need your permission." 

Lex walked up toward the front of the ship to see what was in the room on the other end of Cat's quarters.  The wererat couldn't believe that anyone could be so insubordinate.  He followed after Lex and confronted him again.  Only this time he did so with a weapon in his hand.

Cat had heard the commotion and had come out to see what was going on.  She listened to the heated words that were being exchanged and she wondered how long it would take this neatow to alienate all of her inner circle.  When the weapon was drawn, she watched to see how the neatow would react.  Would he fight and disrupt the order on ship?  Or would he surprise them all? 

"I don't know who you think you are but I am one of the inner circle and what you just did gets those outside the circle killed."

Lex wasn't certain if the statement was meant as a threat or as a warning.  Judging by the look of this seething creature, it was meant as a challenge.  Lex saw Cat standing behind the challenger, so he decided to stay in character and take it as a warning.

"Thank you for clarifying that for me," replied Lex casually.Lex wasn't sure, but he thought Cat smiled.  She was quick to bring her hand to cover her mouth.  And when the wererat huffed in frustration, she had to turn away to hide her surprise and amusement.  When he cried out ready to attack Lex, Cat called out his name and he stopped mid scream.

"Hormon, I wouldn't do that if I were you," she said.  He turned to look at her.  "Lex," she started the introductions, "I'd like you to meet Hormon, maps and navigation.  And a member of the inner circle as he has already told you I'm sure." 

"Yes," said Lex, "I do think I recall it being mentioned." 

"Hormon," she turned to face the seething wererat. "I'd like you to meet Lex, first warrior of the Death Knight.  He is also a member of my inner circle or didn't you know that?" 

When Hormon heard the title of first warrior his face showed shock first and then fear.  He lowered the weapon and sheathed it quickly.  He realized that he had been asked a question by the captain.  With all the fuss he had just made about Lex not answering his question, he knew she would not wait long for an answer from him. 

"No Captain.  I don't believe we had been introduced before today," he said. 

"Well since he only moved into his quarters at noon, that would make perfect sense," said the captain.  She was as gracious a diplomat as she had always been.  "Hormon, did you need anything else?"

He looked at her somewhat shocked.  He was being dismissed in the presence of the neatow.  The creature had been put above him in rank.  And he had apparently been put above him in the regard of the captain as well. 

"No ma'am," he humbly answered. 

Cat smiled and then turned toward Lex and took his arm. "Tomorrow morning I will hold a tournament in my arena.  It is sort of a contest to see who among the kin and kind on the island are worthy to join us on the ship and become members of my crew.  Before the challenges begin, I'll introduce each of the inner circle.  That way, you can know who on board is your equal." 

Lex walked with his wife and had to think hard to not reveal himself to her.  When she said equal, it brought Lex an opportunity to say a truth that would fit the image he was portraying.  Without the slightest malice or untruth he simply stated his position.

"No man on this vessel is my equal.  You, dear lady, are the captain and it is your vessel.  But I have yet to see another who could challenge me."

 Cat started to respond and scold him for pride and bragging.  But as she thought of how to phrase the words, she realized that what he had said was more than true.  It was obvious. 

"When I say equal, I mean in rank."  When she said the words, Lex knew he would be accepted fully into Cat's confidences.  "Some of the crew," she continued. "Like Gothra for instance, are unimportant and no one likes.  But if my ship is to run smoothly, it would be help a great deal if my inner circle could get along and even become friends."

 "I didn't realize at the time, just how insecure and upset Hormon would become.  I will try to do better." 

Lex looked down at her as he said it and had to again catch himself from getting entranced by her beauty.  He was very glad that she carried herself so well.  He feared that if she had acted as if she would respond to advances, he might not have been able to resist the feelings that walking with his wife gave him.  Then as Lex raised his head back up to look forward again he realized that it was her steadfastness to her marriage vows that was so lovely. 

Cat showed Lex the remainder of the ship and then escorted him back to his cabin.  He thanked her for the tour and promised again to be more pleasant to crewmen.  He stepped into his cabin and started to close the door.  But he opened it and watched her as she walked back up the hallway and turned toward the stairs. 

Lex sat at the table in Stark and Rand's cabin and watched as Stark settled into the new quarters.  Rand had made himself invisible so he could go into Lex's room and look around.  He headed over to the corner of the room where he had detected a magical force before.

He found the viewer but he wasn't quite sure what it was.One thing he did know for certain; there was a wizard somewhere on board whose powers exceeded his own.  He did a good search of his own room before turning back into solid form.  He sat down near Lex at the table and whispered in his ear that he was probably being observed whenever he was in his own room.  A smile crossed Lex's face and he spoke in a quiet tone.

"No wonder she's able to maintain such control.  She can weed out disloyals before they even can act against her."  He signaled for Stark to join them at the table.  "If she wants to know what we are really about, then let's show her.  We can let her know we are on her side and no one will have to know we are anything more than just the image we have given them so far." 

"But Lex," said Rand, "What if Cat isn't the one watching?" 

"Oh I'm sure it's Cat.  And if it isn't they'll be reporting to her whatever they see in here."  He rested his snout onto his curled talons and thought a while. "I've got to figure out how to send a message that only she would understand.  I don't want to reveal too much.  She just needs to know that we are three she could truly trust." 

"Maybe Stinger can help," suggested Rand.  He's from your home town, right?"  Lex nodded. "Well maybe, no that won't work.  I don't think he's bright enough to pass a message back to her without botching it up." 

"Well," said Lex as he stretched and yawned. "Whatever we do, it'll wait until morning.  I’m tired and I'm going to bed." He stood and headed toward his room. "Since I know she's watching me, it'll almost be like we were back home in Greenhope," he said as he walked back into his own room.

In the captain's cabin, Cat's ears perked up when she thought she heard the name of her old homeland spoken of.  She watched the viewer as Lex removed his boots, cloak and tunic and crawled into bed.  It struck her as funny how much this strange creature reminded her of the love she had so long searched for. She shook off the idea and as she heard him drift off to quiet snores, she turned away from the viewer, covered it, and went to bed herself.She dreamt of feelings she hadn't enjoyed in some time.  She fought with the idea that such a creature could awaken feelings long buried.  A few tosses and turns and her dreams faded and real sleep filtered in.

Lex thought of her watching as he drifted off.  But instead of dreaming of her, his dreams took him back to the Land East and to the travels of two giants and a halfelf.The air was cooler than it had been in his dream of the night before.  The terrain was showing low rolling hills and a rich wood filling the south west.  

Lex could see by the color of the sky that morning was just breaking over the horizon.  At least one day had passed since his last dream.  And as he watched, the three travelers slowed their pace to a walk, and a village of small houses and tiny beings opened up on the road before them.  Bruce stopped and removed his boots.  The other two got off their horses and led them the rest of the way into town. 

"This looks like a nice little place to be from," said Adia as she walked into the shire with Bruce and Stephan. 

"Had I not known that I really belonged somewhere else, I probably would have never left this place," said Bruce.  He looked ahead and smiled as he spotted a halfling familiar to his eye. 

"Bruce, is that my little Bruce?" called the woman. 

"Soemee," answered the giant as he scooped the tiny figure up in his arms. "I have missed you so much."

Lex noted that seeing Bruce like this was like watching a younger in any homeland.  He watched the trio through a good part of their day and his heart smiled.  It appeared that Bruce's impression of being needed at home had been a false alarm.  Then just as the evening meal was being set out in the courtyard, two halflings that were strangers to Bruce asked him to walk with them.  Stephan saw the pair and followed them. 

"Adia," he called. 

She looked over at him and saw Bruce walking with the two strangers off toward the woods.  She excused herself from the folk she was visiting with and disappeared into the woods where Bruce was headed.  She and Stephan hadn't come all the way here just to let some strangers take off with Bruce and not do anything about it. 

"Master Bruce, we are the ones who called you here," said one of the halflings as they reached a spot in the wood where others in the village would no longer see them.  Stephan watched from the shadow of the trees as the two halflings looked around.  When they didn't see anyone, they both suddenly changed shape and became giants who resembled Bruce.

As Lex slept, he could see Adia with her bow ready.  Stephan stood ready with his bow as well.  Lex felt as if he were right there in the shire with them. He could tell that if either of those two so much as sneezed aggressively, they would be under fire from two who would give their lives for this friend and hero.  Lex's attention turned back to Bruce and the firbolgs who stood before him.

"Master, we are from your true homeland.  We have searched these many years for you and now that we have found you, we can take you home," said the second man. 

"Why do you keep calling me Master?" asked Bruce. 

The first giant spoke again, "Master, you are the prince of our people.  You carry the DEFENDER OF THE TRUTH.  It has always been the symbol of our royalty." 

"We hoped that we would find you before you reached your full maturity.  There are things you can only learn in your own homeland among your own people."  The two giants seemed to be pressing Bruce. 

"It is imperative that you come home with us now.  There are forces that would that you never reach home."

Bruce thought a moment and looked at the pair.  "I have promised that I would meet some kin and kind in three days on a journey north.  After I have finished my obligation to them, then I will come to you." 

"No," said the second giant.  "You need to come now." 

Lex could see the tenseness in all three of the party from Castletown.  Bruce raised his head and could see both of his companions with weapons ready.  He smiled slightly and drew the very sword that the two giants claimed was a proof of his royalty.

"This is the symbol of royalty and I am a prince?" he asked. 

"Yes Master and you are needed at home." answered one of the men. 

"Where is home?" asked Bruce. 

The two men glanced at each other and stammered a bit.  "The way is difficult to explain.  We really need to take you there ourselves." 

"Umm.  That's what I thought," said Bruce.  "Well, if I am your prince then who and where is my father?" 

"Your father was killed on the day you were born.  A band of elves took you away from us.  They murdered your mother and left you here in this forsaken place to die or grow up twisted with ideas and imaginings of equality for all races." 

The other giant joined in, "All the other races of Thordon knew that you were the only true ruler of the Land East.  If you don't return to the house of your father's kin before your thirtieth year begins, then the kingdom can't be passed on as it must be." 

Bruce listened as the two told their tale.  He waited until they were finished and then he made clear his intent.  "I have promised that I would join others on a journey to the north.  The Ancient of Ages has called me and I will sit at his feet and partake of his wisdom.  Once that obligation is fulfilled, I will seek out the truth of what you say.  Then and only then, I will come to the house of my father's kin."

 The two giants both drew weapons.  It was clear to all that their efforts to trick Bruce into going with them were not going to succeed. "You must not delay.  If you do not come with us, you will never go anywhere with someone else." 

As they both raised their blades at Bruce, he prepared to defend himself.  But before the giants could strike, each one was hit in the side by a flight arrow.  From the other direction, twelve long arrows flew with the swiftness of the wind and found their homes deep in the hearts of Bruce's would be attackers. 

In his dream, Lex watched as Adia and Stephan both came from their hiding places and joined Bruce in the clearing.  The three of them looked down at the bodies of the two firbolg giants. 

"If you ask me, we should check their pockets.  There's got to be something that would tell you who these guys really were," said Stephan.

"Who they were, were the first of my own kind I have ever seen," said Bruce sadly.  "They are also the first assassins I have even known who had me as a target." 

"Do you think what they said about you being a prince was the truth?" asked Adia. 

"It was almost the only truth those two spoke to you my son."  The voice was Soemee's.  She walked up to where the three stood and reached up for Bruce's hand.  Bruce and the others walked with her a little ways off and the four of them sat on the cool green grass.

Soemee tried to find the words that would best answer the many questions she knew would be racing through Bruce's mind about this time.  For the sake of Adia and Stephan, she rehearsed all that she and her kin had done to help raise Bruce from infancy.  After they had talked and laughed and sat for a long while.  Bruce asked the questions and Soemee was ready to answer them.

"Elves did not murder your mother.  They were trying to help her escape.  When your father was murdered on his throne, she left your homeland in order to save your life.  The laws of your people were based on the society always having a strong leader.  If a king died, his son would only rule if he lived to reach maturity.  If the son was killed before his thirtieth birthday, then the elder of the land would rule." 

"I suppose the elder was supposed to rule because of the wisdom that age brings.  Whatever the reason behind it that was the law.  When you were just a day onto this world; a firbolg named Zorton, who was the first son of the elder, struck down your father as he rested upon his throne.  Zorton felt certain that your death would be easy.  He didn't realize how beloved your mother was by all the races of Thordon.  When he hunted down your mother and killed her, the elves took you and hid you here in the one place he would never think to look."

"Only my dear and I knew all of who you truly were.  We had been among the lucky folk who knew your mother while she yet lived.  Since we knew what had really happened to your father's house, we were chosen to safeguard you and do the best we could to raise you as she would have done."  The old halfling woman patted the giant's hand as if he were a younger of her own size.  She paused to see how he was taking all the news.  The look of wonder and interest on his face told her that she could go on with her tale.

"I never knew exactly where your homeland was.  I knew that your mother traveled far to visit with us here and she always came from the north.  But after her death, the only thing we had to help you find your way home was the symbol of your royal birth.  That sword was all we had to prove who you were and through which house you could claim the kingdom.”

“When you set out on your own, we hoped that if others of your kind saw the sword, they would protect you and help you understand how you could take your place in the house of your father's kin.  It never dawned on us that the first kin you saw would have been ones who sought you out to end your life." 

"If they found me here, then none of you are safe as long as I am here," said the gentle giant. 

"Once you return to your homeland as a mature prince, then no one would dare come against us," said Soemee.  I don't know if the elder ever knew that his own son was the one who brought down the house of your father.  I don't think he does.  From how your mother spoke of him, I think if he did know he would have tried even his own son and caused him to pay the debts he owed your family."

 "Some thought that Zorton intended to rule the kingdom himself.  You see, if the son of the king does not return in his thirtieth year, then the crown is passed down the elder's kinship as if he had been the king.  If you do not return to claim your right, Zorton will be the next in line for your throne."  She had finished.  She didn't know what else to say.  So she prepared herself for the onslaught of questions she was sure Bruce would pour out upon her.  But no onslaught occurred.  Bruce asked but two questions. 

"When does my thirtieth year begin?  And can I return home and make my claim at any time during that year?" 

"I subtracted a hundred years from my age and traded birthdays with you so we could pretend you had been with us for the wrong amount of time to be the prince.  It was silly really.  Anyone who saw you would know when your birth occurred.  Anyone but you that is."

"The day that your thirtieth year begins is in five days.  And yes, you have one year from that day to return and make your claim."  She looked down at the grass and watched a teardrop fall from her cheek.  "I'm sorry, my son.  I failed to tell you the truth so many years ago.  I hope you can forgive an old woman." 

Bruce sat for a moment and then looked over at the only mother he had ever known.  A smile of gratitude and love softened the corners of his mouth and he brought the tiny figure up close to his chest.  She all but disappeared as he held her close and hugged her.  As she and the giant pulled back from their embrace she faked a laugh and rubbed his face. 

"You need a shave.  I thought for a minute there that I wouldn't have any skin left when you were through squeezing me." 

"Now Miss Soemee," said Adia, "You know good and well that grown firbolgs don't usually shave." 

"Oh I know that.  It is just that he has such a nice face.  I like for him to let it be seen now and again."

"Well I do shave more often than not," said the massive man.  "But I promise that whenever I'm around you, I'll be smooth as silk." 

Soemee tried to imagine the boy she had raised sitting as a king on a fine throne and she laughed.  "We'd better get up and get to that supper.  It's all laid out and you know how halflings can eat.  If we don't get to it, there won't be any left."  All of them arose and Bruce lifted Soemee up onto his shoulder.

"Oh my, it is a ways up here isn't it?" she said.

"If you are frightened, I can put you down," offered Bruce. 

"Now don't you dare put me down, at least not until everyone gets to see me riding up here."  She waved to her kinfolk as they came from the wood and reentered the clearing.  "Bruce, I heard you say that you were going to see the Ancient of Ages.  He knows every part of this land.  If anyone could show you the way to get home it would be him.  You all eat and rest tonight.  Bright and early tomorrow, you and your delightful friends get on with your trip so you can finish and get on home where you should be." 

Lex watched as Bruce lowered the tiny halfling to a chair waiting at the table for her.  He could smell the foods and warm breads as if he were there beside them.  Just as he thought he could resist the food not a moment longer he awoke to find Stark standing beside his bed. 

"Boy you have got to be the soundest sleeper I have ever seen.  All the commotion that cabin boy made bringing in your breakfast and you sleep right through it all.  I swear if the food didn't smell so good, you'd have probably never woke up at all." 

Lex rubbed his face and realized it had been since the day they had left Castletown when he had last shaved.  He stretched and yawned and looked around Stark to the table set with hot foods and fresh breads.

"It does smell good," he mumbled through another yawn. 

"It's alive," called Rand Matrix from the other room.  He toddled in with a roll in one hand and a piece of fruit in the other.  "Try the rolls.  I haven't had any as good since I ate at a halfling's kitchen."  Lex stared at the little elf and wondered for a moment about how much of his dreams were really dreams at all.